Asbury University alumnus Kent Kay, a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production program, continues to make an impact in film and higher education.
Kay resides in Palm Springs, California, and serves as an assistant professor of film studies, digital design and generative artificial intelligence at College of the Desert. He recently received an Alex Trebek Legacy Fellowship for the Television Academy Foundation’s 2026 Media Educators Conference.
With more than 30 years of experience in radio, television and electronic media, Kay pursued graduate education at Asbury to expand his creative abilities and explore new opportunities in filmmaking and education.
In the following Q&A, Kay reflects on his graduate experience, the value of lifelong learning and how Asbury helped prepare him for a new chapter in his career.
I came to Asbury after more than 30 years working as a broadcaster in radio, television, and electronic media, and the program showed me that no matter how much experience we have, we should never stop being students of our craft. Earning my MFA helped me gain the confidence to step into a new chapter as a college professor and filmmaker, where I now have the privilege of helping the next generation discover their own creative voices.
The most valuable part of Asbury was being challenged to move beyond what I already knew and take creative risks again, from directing my thesis film, Your Company, to studying filmmaking at Pinewood Studios in England. I was pleasantly surprised to learn aspects of filmmaking I had never been exposed to before and to explore storytelling at a much higher level. Asbury reminded me that growth often begins when we are willing to open ourselves to opportunities, surround ourselves with people who believe in our potential, and have the courage to tell stories that matter.
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